From the start, the PAP has stood for a fair and just society for all, where every Singaporean, regardless of race, language or religion, deserves a fair shot in life, and is able to realise their fullest potential.
These convictions, PM Wong said, underpin the core pillars of the system the PAP has built in Singapore – one that’s clean and honest, and that operates on the basis of merit.
Resetting attitudes and mindsets to meet changing needs
To adapt to new circumstances, and the evolving needs of our society, the PAP Government embarked on Forward Singapore to review policies, and reset attitudes and mindsets ‘so that we can continue to give every Singaporean, regardless of social background, a stake in our progress’, Mr Wong said at the PAP70 Party Conference.
For seniors
For seniors, the Government continues to provide significant support for them through Healthier SG and Age Well SG in addition to the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation packages which were implemented earlier, said PM Wong.
Through Healthier SG, a senior makes the choice to take charge of their health with support at every step of their health journey, and to live healthier. Healthier SG makes the shift to preventive care through a personalised health plan which includes health screenings to detect health issues early and vaccinations.
For younger seniors
“For younger seniors and those in their 40s, we are doing more to help them in their skills upgrading and retirement savings, through SkillsFuture and the Majulah Package,” said PM Wong.
The good news for seniors from the Pioneer and Merdeka Generations is that they are also included in the benefits in the Majulah Package.
For families, young couples and singles
Moves announced this year include the government-paid shared parental leave of up to 10 weeks, announced at this year National Day Rally.
Parents-to-be will get another 10 weeks of shared leave on top of their current leave entitlement, bringing the total amount of government-paid parental leave to 30 weeks by April 1, 2026.
In short: Mums get 16 weeks of maternity leave, while dads get four weeks of paternity leave. On top of that, parents will have 10 weeks of leave to be shared between them. This works out to around 7½ months of paid leave for parents of Singaporean babies.
At the Rally, PM Wong acknowledged that marrying and having children are deeply personal choices. While many Singaporeans aspire to these goals, they also have competing aspirations such as establishing their careers, he said.
“What the Government can and will do is to create a more family-friendly environment in Singapore. And hopefully this will motivate more Singaporeans to translate their aspirations into reality.”
